Volcanos

[GSOgymrat]

It is remarkable how this volcanic ash coming out of Iceland is affecting the whole world. The European economy  is really going to take a hit if this continues for weeks. My partner is a flight attendant and is stuck in Rome. The airline is paying for his hotel stay and giving him 15 euros a day for food and paid for 1 international phone call. He doesn't have a cell phone with him or a computer so it looks like we will not be communicating for a while. At least he is in a fun city. I told him to think of it as a vacation. Anyone else stuck or have family who is stuck?

[mecch]

15 euros a day, gee so generous! 
Are there still public phones in Rome?  He could get a phone card and call you very cheaply from anyone's phone or from the public ones. 

[GSOgymrat]

I'm sure he can figure out something if he needs to. It is not unusual for us to go days without communicating when he is on trips. One reason why I am glad he is finally getting an iPad is so we can Sykpe or at least email when he is away.

[Alain]

Rome is not bad at all for a place to be stuck, but this is getting out of hand.

I have friends stranded in London with 6 of our aircraft there, as well as in Paris and Frankfurt.

My friends Heinz and Otto are stuck in Zurich and being staff, they are traveling on standby basis.

Although nice and comfy with family and all, one is running low on meds.

The cloud has turned westerly and should be over Newfoundland Canada sometimes today.

[GSOgymrat]

My partner will run out of meds in 2 days I think.

[Alain]

Yikes! And its not like you can FedEx him some either.

[veritas]

Ford,

Hopefully, it won't be necessary for your partner to take this route, however, there are ways for him to acquire the necessary medications abroad. See this as a start:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1215.html

If he doesn't have his scripts with him, perhaps you could make arrangements to FAX them to him.

Just something to think about.

v

[Miss Philicia]

He doesn't have a cell phone with him or a computer so it looks like we will not be communicating for a while.

Girl, your partner, as a well traveled homo, should well know where to locate an internet cafe in Rome.

[Boze]

GSOgymrat,

This is precisely the situation I am worried about - ie when I start treatment.

I like to travel - and will always have to keep in mind the 'worst case scenario' for having drugs on me. I think I"ll have to have at least a month supply on myself and same with my travel partner (redundancy in case one bottle gets lost/stolen). And have a stash with a friend who can FedEx it to me in case I'll be stuck longer.

[Hellraiser]

GSOgymrat,

This is precisely the situation I am worried about - ie when I start treatment.

I like to travel - and will always have to keep in mind the 'worst case scenario' for having drugs on me. I think I"ll have to have at least a month supply on myself and same with my travel partner (redundancy in case one bottle gets lost/stolen). And have a stash with a friend who can FedEx it to me in case I'll be stuck longer.

One month supply should be plenty,  2 backups shouldn't be necessary, but just keep your one month supply on your person somewhere where it can't be lost or stolen.

[Boze]

Hellraiser,

Well the point of the second supply is in case MY supply gets stolen. Of course you try and prevent it from being lost or stolen but you just never know.

[mecch]

If its really a concern, you might want to fax perscriptions so they can get these locally.
If it goes on for quite awhile I can ship some pills from switzerland but I only have truvada, intellence and reyataz/norvir.

[GSOgymrat]

Ford,

Hopefully, it won't be necessary for your partner to take this route, however, there are ways for him to acquire the necessary medications abroad. See this as a start:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1215.html

v

Thanks for the link, V. I hope he can get home before it comes to that.

Girl, your partner, as a well traveled homo, should well know where to locate an internet cafe in Rome.

You're talking about someone who got his first email address... first email address... a couple of weeks ago. That is why I am hopeful that if this girl can operate an iPad he can too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT4EbM7dCMs


Borzel, I wouldn't worry too much about traveling with medications. My partner has been traveling numerous trips per month for many years and this is the first time he has had a problem, and it took a volcano knocking out air travel across a continent to create the issue. While it is important to take HIV medications as prescribed missing a couple of doses doesn't mean you are automatically going to become resistant.

If its really a concern, you might want to fax perscriptions so they can get these locally.
If it goes on for quite awhile I can ship some pills from switzerland but I only have truvada, intellence and reyataz/norvir.

Thanks for the offer! I'm hopefull that conditions will improve enough that they can find a safe route home soon.

[Hellraiser]

I saw a news report where the EU is just being silly about this, but with that Polish crash being so recent I can see where they'd be overly cautious.

[komnaes]

Girl, your partner, as a well traveled homo, should well know where to locate an internet cafe in Rome.

Hehe.. his partner has paired up with a hottie so there's no need to know anything about gaydar and manhunt like the rest of us..

Back to the topic.. hard for us to imagine the chaos there. Just read from NPR that 63,000 flights have been canceled since last week. That's like couple of millions people stranded. The UK is saying to deploy warships to ship their citizens back from continental Europe.

[Alain]

I saw a news report where the EU is just being silly about this, but with that Polish crash being so recent I can see where they'd be overly cautious.

The Polish crash is unrelated.

The EU is making their decisions taking into account these 2 previous incidents

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KLM_Flight_867

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Airways_Flight_9

Its Government Agency's that decides where and when airlines can fly, and they are not taking any chances. Although many airlines have done their own testing and flights were successful.

But the Swiss are saying this

http://translate.google.de/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/vulkanaschemessungen100.html&sl=de&tl=en

So who do you believe.

[Hellraiser]

If you think a recent horrific air crash doesn't influence decision making then you're being naive.

[BrotherDavid]

It is remarkable how this volcanic ash coming out of Iceland is affecting the whole world. The European economy  is really going to take a hit if this continues for weeks. My partner is a flight attendant and is stuck in Rome. The airline is paying for his hotel stay and giving him 15 euros a day for food and paid for 1 international phone call. He doesn't have a cell phone with him or a computer so it looks like we will not be communicating for a while. At least he is in a fun city. I told him to think of it as a vacation. Anyone else stuck or have family who is stuck?

Sorry to hear about you're dilemma GSO, Like you, I have a partner who worked for Continental for 10 years. His LAYovers (as we put it) used to worry me.

I am thankful that he finally got away from the airline industry and works local, but I do miss all of the buddie passes and free travel.

[Alain]

If you think a recent horrific air crash doesn't influence decision making then you're being naive.

Naive, not in the least Trey.

These two situations are simply not related.

The Polish crash happened because a young army pilot did not stick to his decision (his and only his to make) and divert into another airport after the fourth attempt to land his plane.

Probably because his boss was sitting in the back and gave him the order to land no matter what, so that they would not be late for their ceremony.

Just a sad accident cause by human error.

Lets go back to the volcano story.

[Miss Philicia]

Lets go back to the volcano story.

Is it just me, or can one see the Virgin Mary in satellite photos of the Eyjafjallajoekull ash cloud?

[WillyWump]

If piston engines are immune from the effects of volcanic ash cant we take some of these out of mothball and press them into service to get these people home:

http://www.stinsonflyer.com/prop/dc3a-1.jpg

or better yet this:

http://www.argi.com/Biplane%20Tennis.jpg

[Grasshopper]

Seems like the ashcloud has crossed the pond. Newfoundland Saint John's airport has grounded some aircraft out of precaution. It's still unclear if/when the ashcloud will drift to Montreal or Boston.

We live appox. 10 minutes from Schiphol airport, and it has been absolute silence the past couple of days....just amazing

[komnaes]

Is it just me, or can one see the Virgin Mary in satellite photos of the Eyjafjallajoekull ash cloud?

I heard a newscaster tried to pronounce it as "hey ya fergot la yogurt".. no wonder most just avoid it.

Can someone clarify? I think the erupting volcano is not named Eyjafjallajökull - it's the glacier in that area that was covering the volcano before it got melted away..

[Miss Philicia]

Can someone clarify? I think the erupting volcano is not named Eyjafjallajökull - it's the glacier in that area that was covering the volcano before it got melted away..

I think it's both.  By the way, I visited the Skógafoss waterfall nearby when I went to Iceland in 2006.

[Miss Philicia]

o noes!  My twitter feed is showing Jesus Luz is visually documenting how he is stranded in Barcelona's airport due to those dastardly Vikings.

[mecch]

He played a set in Geneva the other night and they picked him up in Paris by car and the next morning he went down to Barcelona.

[Roie]

Is it just me, or can one see the Virgin Mary in satellite photos of the Eyjafjallajoekull ash cloud?

Its very clear Phillicia.

[skeebo1969]

Is it just me, or can one see the Virgin Mary in satellite photos of the Eyjafjallajoekull ash cloud?

Its very clear Phillicia.

I don't see that at all.  I see Steve Irwin's chest with a stingray barb.

[Miss Philicia]

I don't see that at all.  I see Steve Irwin's chest with a stingray barb.

Try this link then... it's a close up!

Iceland Volcano: Radar Pictures of the Craters

On Thursday scientists got the first radar pictures of the craters in Eyjafjallajökull. Until then it had been impossible to take such photos. The radar pictures are taken by the ELTA radar on the Coast Guard airplane TF-SIF. The pictures show three craters and how large they are.

[skeebo1969]

Try this link then... it's a close up!

Iceland Volcano: Radar Pictures of the Craters

On Thursday scientists got the first radar pictures of the craters in Eyjafjallajökull. Until then it had been impossible to take such photos. The radar pictures are taken by the ELTA radar on the Coast Guard airplane TF-SIF. The pictures show three craters and how large they are.

Steve Irwin's skull after it's been buried for close to 4 years.  You can see the orbital eye sockets, dead give away.

[BT65]

Ms. P's first pic looks more like George Washington to me.

[Cliff]

If you think a recent horrific air crash doesn't influence decision making then you're being naive.

It's completely unrelated and no one is making that link.  There were a few close calls with more related incidents (i.e., aircrafts flying into ash clouds)....I think they were in the 80s/90s.  Also, Nasa issued a report on this when they had an aircraft suffer subtantial damage from volcanic ash.

I have some friends stuck around the world (who all seem to think I can do something for them).  I can't.  A few staff members also stuck.  I spent most of my day trying to help sort them out for when the flights do return (which looks like tomorrow). 

But more importantly, we fly so much food into the country and the shelves are gonna be bare soon!  What ever will we do without our grapes from Chile, Strawberries from Egypt and Green beans from Kenya!

[Hellraiser]

Protest all y'all want, but one of the things that separates human beings from animals is our ability to remember and connect events.  It works for and against us.  These two events are not the same, but all I was saying is the severity of this situation is most likely being amped up due to that recent massive loss of life in an airplane.

As for strawberries,  Cliff are you in the US?  I know floridian farmers were destroying the strawberry crop this year because they were valued at 25 cents a pound instead of their normal dollar a pound.  It caused a pretty massive uproar that they were destroying a food crop.

[Cliff]

Not in the US.  I bought some King strawberries from M&S the other week and they were £7 for 12 strawberries (about $10-11)!  Someone should tell those farmers to send their products to the UK instead of the local dump!

[Matty the Damned]

Ya gotta love the work of Loki.

MtD

[mecch]

Carbon footprints my dears. Eat fruits and veges in season in your country.  Go to local vacation spots. No biggie.

If the only strawberries sold in the USA were American, they'd hold their value.

The volcano is a warning from hell, or heaven, of a world out of whack.  Grounded planes a blatent symbol.

Beware the Israeli boutique tomato.   

[WillyWump]

As for strawberries,  Cliff are you in the US?  I know floridian farmers were destroying the strawberry crop this year because they were valued at 25 cents a pound instead of their normal dollar a pound.  It caused a pretty massive uproar that they were destroying a food crop.

This PISSES me off! All I can get here is strawberries from Mexico. What I wouldnt do for some good 'ol US Strawberries.

[Hellraiser]

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/strawberry-farmers-destroy-crops/story?id=10219820

The best part is the farmers used SO much water to save the strawberries during the winter freezes that they dried up the wells in the area...which created sinkholes....which cracked a lot of the nearby home's foundations...and now they're destroying the strawberries.

[GSOgymrat]

My partner is back in home. Apparently the experience was torture. He and his fly buddies were eating calamari, caprizi salad, gelato and copious amounts of wine while window shopping and strolling ancient landmarks. Of course they are being paid by the hour to do this. Meanwhile I was subpoenaed regarding an incident at work and spent 2 solid hours being grilled by lawyers.

I'm not bitter.

[WillyWump]

My partner is back in home. Apparently the experience was torture. He and his fly buddies were eating calamari, caprizi salad, gelato and copious amounts of wine while window shopping and strolling ancient landmarks. Of course they are being paid by the hour to do this. Meanwhile I was subpoenaed regarding an incident at work and spent 2 solid hours being grilled by lawyers.

I'm not bitter.

I'm bitter and he's not even my B/F.

[Hellraiser]

My partner is back in home. Apparently the experience was torture. He and his fly buddies were eating calamari, caprizi salad, gelato and copious amounts of wine while window shopping and strolling ancient landmarks. Of course they are being paid by the hour to do this. Meanwhile I was subpoenaed regarding an incident at work and spent 2 solid hours being grilled by lawyers.

I'm not bitter.

You should withhold sex in my opinion.

[Alain]

My partner is back in home. Apparently the experience was torture. He and his fly buddies were eating calamari, caprizi salad, gelato and copious amounts of wine while window shopping and strolling ancient landmarks. Of course they are being paid by the hour to do this. Meanwhile I was subpoenaed regarding an incident at work and spent 2 solid hours being grilled by lawyers.

I'm not bitter.

Home sweat home! 

[StacheBC]

Is it just me, or can one see the Virgin Mary in satellite photos of the Eyjafjallajoekull ash cloud?

Actually it looks like the butt crack I did a while back... he was no Virgin... but what a Mary.

[Matty the Damned]

Actually it looks like the butt crack I did a while back... he was no Virgin... but what a Mary.

Heh.

MtD

[fearless]

Is it just me, or can one see the Virgin Mary in satellite photos of the Eyjafjallajoekull ash cloud?

Looks like a Kaletra fart!!!

[fearless]

Carbon footprints my dears. Eat fruits and veges in season in your country.  Go to local vacation spots. No biggie.

If the only strawberries sold in the USA were American, they'd hold their value.

The volcano is a warning from hell, or heaven, of a world out of whack.  Grounded planes a blatent symbol.

Beware the Israeli boutique tomato.  

With all the grounded flights our carbon footprints will have reduced greatly. I've been flicking my light switches on and off all night, to celebrate and well, just because I can.
And, on a more serious note, all this volcanic ah in the atmosphere should result in reduced temperatures around the globe for a few years. Mother nature fights back!!!

[tednlou2]

With all the grounded flights our carbon footprints will have reduced greatly. I've been flicking my light switches on and off all night, to celebrate and well, just because I can.
And, on a more serious note, all this volcanic ah in the atmosphere should result in reduced temperatures around the globe for a few years. Mother nature fights back!!!

I've been wondering about that, too.  I know after 9/11 and the grounded flights for 3 days??, the skies were so clear and temps actually went down.  I've also heard the same thing about volcanos may have some benefit in that the ash reflects the sun back into space.  They also said a lot of the particulate matter in the air from man-made pollution has actually helped to make global warming not as bad as it would be.

Anyway, it does make me wonder whether governments should regulate jet pollution.  That pollution never gets talked about.  If ya look at the websites that show every plane in the air, the whole country is covered in planes--well, states like Montana and the Dakotas are pretty bare.   

[Cliff]

Not sure what went down, but BA sent some flights from the US back to the UK, forcing the government to either stand its ground and divert the flights to another country or back down.  They backed down. 

UK airspace is now open!  YAY!!!!

 

[northernguy]

Yikes, is 15 Euros a day their usual per diem?  They need a better union!

[GSOgymrat]

Yikes, is 15 Euros a day their usual per diem?  They need a better union!

Actually they gave them 15 euros for dinner the first night and 20 euros extra for dinner on top of their hourly per diem. Not everyone wanted to go out to dinner so they got to spend the other people's euros.